Definitions of "Multi-national corporations":


Corporations which have their home in one country but operate and live under the laws and customs of other countries as well.
A company is multinational if it does business in more than one country in such a volume that its well-being and growth rest in more than one country.
A U.S.-based multinational firm is one with corporate headquarters in the United States, but in their organization, their business, their scope, they are world-wide. Corporate top management is not concerned with any one region or territory.... An international business demands of its management people that they think and act as international businessmen in a world in which national passions are as strong as ever.

 
 
 

Six approaches of multinational corporations to accommodate foreign readers of their financial statements.


1.  Do nothing.
2.  Prepare "convenience translations"  (Language translations only)
3.  Prepare "convenience statements"  (Language and currency)
4.  Restate on a limited basis  (Disclosure and reconciliation)
5.  Prepare "secondary" financial statements  (Same basis as reader's home country)
6.  Prepare financial statements according to "world" accounting principles. Moving closer!




Certain International organizations involved in harmonizing accounting and auditing standards

International Accounting Standards Board

(Formerly International Accounting Standards Committee)

  • formed in 1973
  • approximately 41 international accounting standards issued, although some have been superceded by later pronouncements
  • represents approximately 100 accounting bodies from nearly 80 countries
  • governments do not belong
  • voluntary compliance
link to: 

iasc logo

International Accounting Standards Board
 
For many years the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) has been working to develop a set of accounting standards which can be used to bring about uniformity in financial reporting around the world. Uniform accounting practices reduce the costs of preparing financial statements for multinational companies and facilitate assessors of business results.

IAS's:  International Accounting Standards (41) up to 2000
IFRS's International Financial Reporting Standards - starting 2001 (8 stds as of January 1, 2008)

International Federation of Accountants

link to: ifac logo
International Federation of Accountants

United Nations

un logo

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

link to oecd logo
 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development


 
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